Tips on Hiding a TR50 Lav under clothes

[joaquin]

Hello Remoters! I have a gig with TR50 Tram lav mics that should no be seen. I would really apreciatte If someone with more experience could give me some tips for the rigging under clothes.
Thanks for your Help!

[Karl_Lohninger]

it depends on so many things - you need to describe your situation better. What clothes, male/female, close-ups/medium/wide shots, what transmitter (if there is one), and so on....

[joaquin]

It's a reality TV show, The host is a Male, Clothing may vary from day to day, this is to be Shot in Florida, so no hevy jackets, Probably T shirts. I'm using lectrosonics SMa transmiters, distance from subject may vary from Closeup to very far...reality.
I just want to know tips about placement: use of moleskin, direction of the face, general concerns about noise...waht's is your experience when Hidding a TR-50.
Thanks for your Help.

[Beyersound]

Small balls of gaffers tape(sticky side out) next to the mic, just high enough to keep the clothes from rubbing across it. That is the way we do it for film and TV applications.

[joaquin]

Thanks Beyersound! Is the idea to create something like the natural chamber in a woman's cleavage? Should I mount the vampire clips to some moleskin attached to the skin of the subject? and use the gaffer's balls on the sides of this to separate the shirt?
Thanks again.

[Beyersound]

Originally Posted by joaquin

Thanks Beyersound! Is the idea to create something like the natural chamber in a woman's cleavage? Should I mount the vampire clips to some moleskin attached to the skin of the subject? and use the gaffer's balls on the sides of this to separate the shirt?
Thanks again.

Yes, that way is a standard and works well. Interesting cleavage metaphor! Obviously it is more comfortable for the talent with the vampires stuck in the clothing, but things are more risque these days!

[joaquin]

Thanks Beyersound! I'll let you know how the shoot went.
Thanks!

[danijel]

Originally Posted by joaquin

moleskin attached to the skin of the subject?

It is a technique that can work in a controlled environment, but NO tape will stick to a sweaty body (and you can never know if someone is going to go sweaty on reality). You'd be better off attaching it to the t-shirt itself (from the inside) - if there is any picture or letters printed on the t-shirt, that is the place to gaff-tape the lav - a clean white t-shirt is the hardest to do, because any mounting will un-flatten (in the lack of a better term) the surface and make little shadows.
If I was you, I'd call up an experienced mixer or boom-op and pay him an hour and a half of hands-on tuition, because there are many basic mounting techniques, and a trillion of various pit-falls. It wouldn't be good if you fail on your first assignment, and all chances are that you will, because it isn't something you can figure for yourself in a couple of hours. If that is not possible, next best thing is to go to The Discussion Group @ jwsound.net - Index, I think there are some pictures of lav mounting tehniques, but I'm not sure, I might have seen them elsewhere. Anyway, that is a great place to spend your time before this gig, and there are probably some textual explanations of the process, like what you got from Beyersound.

Good luck, and sorry if that scared you!

[joaquin]

Thanks danijel. I do not have an experienced Reality sound man at hand...I'll look in to the link you gave me. I already have a pretty good Idea of how I'll do it with moleskin and surgical tape. The vampire clips are very handy in this situation, and I'm sure with creativity and a can do attitude I'll make it work.
Thanks again.

[Beyersound]

Originally Posted by joaquin

Thanks danijel. I do not have an experienced Reality sound man at hand...I'll look in to the link you gave me. I already have a pretty good Idea of how I'll do it with moleskin and surgical tape. The vampire clips are very handy in this situation, and I'm sure with creativity and a can do attitude I'll make it work.
Thanks again.

That was a great tip from Danijel about vampire clips from the backside on the printing on a t-shirt, I had almost forgotten that one! It was also a good suggestion to seek out a local pro ENG sound guy to at least physically show you most of the critical stuff you need to know. I must say though, it is not brain surgery to do this type of audio. I had no problem stepping right in my first time. You'll do just fine.

[joaquin]

Originally Posted by Beyersound

That was a great tip from Danijel about vampire clips from the backside on the printing on a t-shirt, I had almost forgotten that one! It was also a good suggestion to seek out a local pro ENG sound guy to at least physically show you most of the critical stuff you need to know. I must say though, it is not brain surgery to do this type of audio. I had no problem stepping right in my first time. You'll do just fine.

Thank you Beyersound.
I just wanted to read about tips and real experiences from the Pros around. I'm an Audio Man and will figure out the best technique and placement on the spot
I'll let you know how it went.
Thanks everybody again.

[joaquin]

It went really good. Most of the subjects were using T shirts, and basically I attached the Vampire clips to the sticky side of the moleskin, tape it good around the mic element and tape the whole thing to the shirt with the mic grill facing out. The emphasis in the highs of the TR50 indeed does wonders for this type of placement. For the rest of the elements I did the usual, Good placement, loop the cable, and tape some inches to the shirt down the line...The sound was flawless. I did have an issue with one of the guests, and I just simply fixed the mic real tied to the clothes eliminating any chance for rubbing noise...it worked.
My main issue, was that I had to boom this very tall NFL And NBA subjects for relatively long periods of time
Thanks everybody for the help and ideas....Rock On!!